BCCI should begin a fresh innings

The Supreme Court’s directive to N Srinivasan asking him to stay away from the affairs of the cricket board until a thorough probe is carried to its logical conclusion shows its concern over the rot within the system.

The Supreme Court’s directive to N Srinivasan asking him to stay away from the affairs of the cricket board until a thorough probe is carried to its logical conclusion shows its concern over the rot within the system. The apex court has also revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president is one of the 13 persons named by the Justice Mukul Mudgal committee investigation panel in a sealed envelope submitted to the court, asking for allegations against them to be probed. The court has decided not to order any inquiry into the allegations as it does not want to give any feeling that the BCCI’s autonomy is being breached or allow media speculation to affect those named. However, by asking the Board to conduct a fresh probe into the serious allegations, the onus of cleaning up its act has been left to the world’s richest national cricket governing body. It is a message to the BCCI that with riches and influence comes a lot of responsibility and it must show its sincerity.

The spot-fixing scandal hit the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year after a lot of questions had done the rounds about the course some of the matches had taken. A year on, the case has not been taken to its logical end. While the Delhi and Mumbai Police cases are still on, Mr Srinivasan has fought tooth and nail to hold on to his chair instead of focusing his energies on safeguarding the image of the BCCI, whose top administration is currently seen as turning a blind eye to corruption in its greed. With so much power concentrated in the president, Mr Srinivasan has not seen any need to take responsibility or convincingly answer specific charges, particularly pertaining to conflict of interest.

Indian cricket can ill-afford to let the sword of corruption hang over cricket. The issue has already shaken the credibility of the game to its foundations. The court had already rebuked Mr Srinivasan over his plea to be allowed to resume duties as president. There is no doubt the BCCI is cornered, but it should see it as a golden opportunity to set its house in order, permanently.